Workers of observation home want wages paid

They ask for regularised salary, eight-hour shifts

Workers of juvenile observation home protest against non-payment of wages at the Collectorate in the city on Monday. Photo: S. James

Workers of the Juvenile Observation Home here carried out a protest, half-clad, on the District Collectorate premises on Monday alleging non-payment of wages.

The group of workers, comprising wardens and cooks, who are temporarily employed through private contracts at the observation home, said that they had not received their salary for the last 16 months.

“While we were told that we would be paid on a yearly basis, we haven’t got any wages as of now. Despite repeated pleas to regularise our salary and ensure monthly payment of the same, no action has been taken,” they alleged.

Permanent job

They further demanded that their jobs be made permanent and that they be made government employees. “There are currently six wardens and one matron working at the observation home and many vacancies are yet to be filled. Most of us work overtime for days together without a break,” they alleged.

The workers said that they wanted regularised working hours as well and asked for shifts of eight-hour duration.

M. Ganesan, a worker who carried out ‘angapradakshinam’ on the Collectorate campus as part of the protest, said the observation home premises was dilapidated and in a very bad condition.

“We have been constantly appealing to the authorities to carry out repair and renovation works as the buildings can collapse anytime. It is also risky as the inmates could also escape,” he claimed.